The Rural Business Innovation Lab (RBIL) is a cohort-based, entrepreneurial development program aiming to redefine the false narrative of rural decline. RBIL will build a peer network dense with innovative ideas, professional expertise, and resources needed for underserved rural entrepreneurs to start and scale their businesses.

RBIL aims to harness the current moment of COVID-19 recovery and take what we have learned from previous cohort-based programming to expand our focus on rural innovation businesses in fields like agriculture, ag tech, sustainability, construction, waste management, water reclamation, workforce development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our current industry focus is on accelerating and building resilience within the natural resource and new climate economy value-chain. RBIL has four main objectives:

What do you get for participating?

The eligibility requirements may be waived for applicants that are mission aligned with advancing rural communities and the natural resources value-chain. Please contact Robert Harris, Lead Consultant if you don’t fit these criteria but still wish to apply.

The first Rural Business Innovation Lab cohort consists of the following entities:

Stablefeed

A premium equine food and supplement company. Their horse feed is an innovative use of organic and minimally processed superfoods. StableFeed’s goal is to provide today’s horse owner with a clean and wholesome feed option so that their horses can return to a more natural and raw diet. 

Perennial Pantry

A startup working to develop and market kernza grain products. Kernza is a regenerative crop (a cousin of wheat), which means that it lives for multiple years which in turn creates healthier soil. With more protein than any other grain and a high fiber food, kernza is taking over every aspect of the kitchen. 

The Meatery

An online marketplace for meat producers and consumers. The Meatery’s goal is to educate consumers with access to small meat producers, supply options to a variety of products, and provide unique ways to cook up a great meal for the whole table. 

Southeast Minnesota Food Rescue and Redistribution

A nonprofit that works with startup farmers from culturally diverse backgrounds, emphasizing indigenous products and practices. By connecting farmers who have an abundance of crops and homes that face food insecurity, this organization is both decreasing food waste and reducing food deserts. 

3Cricketeers

A cricket farm that grows and harvests crickets for use in specialized food products. This is a product that not only fuels humans but also fuels the earth. With less water, land, and almost no emission of greenhouse gasses, 3Cricketeers’ products also provide more health benefits than a typical protein source. It’s the superfood that’s saving the planet and our health!

Clear Water Nitrate Reduction

An environmental engineering and services company specializing in innovative conservation practices. Through research and development the company has been able to design technology that can decrease the amount of nitrogen in run-off water from farm lands. 

Makotah Veterinary Center

 A rural veterinary center that provides services for a mixed variety of animals, running from dogs and cats to horses and cows. This practice is not only trying to serve their community with this necessary service, but also making legislative changes in the veterinary world to make it more accessible for small farmers in rural areas.

Depot Studios

A nonprofit specializing in processing milkweed pods for garment insulation products. While the plant grows like a weed and is also a perennial, its use has an unbelievable potential. Depot Studios isn’t only focused on the environmental impact, but also has the mission to provide full time jobs to their community where a lot of the work can be very seasonal. 

The cohort’s formation was a natural outcome, with applicants chosen based on their alignment with program goals and their potential for growth and innovation. 

CEDA’s Rural Business Innovation Lab is committed to supporting rural entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth. With a focus on sustainability, climate change mitigation, and operational scalability, the program sets the stage for the participating businesses and nonprofits to thrive and make a lasting impact in their communities.

The Rural Business Innovation Lab is made possible by support from Compeer Financial.